Aurei of Westmark -- Book 1 Chronicles of Aurei

Duke Gamel Bugley took a big chance when he found the Drow baby in the wreckage of the Elven coach, floating in Westmark's millpond. Now, 73 years later, the Duke is near death and lacking an heir. Will Aurei, now a blossoming young woman working in Gamel's tavern, 'The Muddy Boot', be able to survive without the Duke's protection, as the town is threatened by the shadowy minions of the Necromancer's Guild?
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Chapters:

She awoke with a start, and for a moment she was not at all sure
where she was, rather bewildered to find herself in water, but
the moment passed quickly. She somehow knew she had been asleep
in the pool for a long time and she quickly climbed out, her legs
stiff from keeping the same position for an extended period.
Aurei hurriedly dried off with the towel she had brought with her
and slipped on the uncomfortable barmaid dress then rushed up the
passage to the cellar, pausing to make sure no one was in the
cellar before she pushed open the secret door and slipped into
the basement.

Though the cellar was windowless, she knew it was morning, for
there was the tramping of feet and the muffled sounds of voices
coming from above her. She didn't know what to do - they
probably were wondering where she was at, and Yesh knew what time
it was, but she had to change clothes to prepare for Gamel's
funeral. She ran over to the basement bedroom and slipped
inside, hanging the light stick in a wall socket. She quickly
changed, glancing down in frustration at Gamel's sealed letter
still waiting for her on the nightstand next to her bed. In
short order she was somewhat ready and dressed in black for the
funeral. Rushing up the cellar stairs, she was startled to have
the door fly open just as she reached the top. Alis jumped back
with a slight scream to find Aurei standing there, "My goodness,
Aurei, you scared me to death! Where have you been, we've been
looking all over for you. The funeral service is going to start
in a quarter of an hour and Pinel is about to boil over in anger
looking for you."

"Terrific" Aurei groaned, "Has everyone been served breakfast?"

"Yes, it's alright, everything went fine, I'd hurry over to the
church, they will be starting soon. I think they just seated
the King in the balcony box, and I was told by Pinel that this
was for the King and himself and if I see you I was to tell you
that you should sit with the villagers in the congregational
seating."

"Already giving orders." she snapped as she rushed by Alis,
"Thanks, Alis; you are a very good friend. You can bring me
dinner when Pinel has me in the Keep's dungeon this evening."

Alis laughed, though somewhat nervously, for she would not put
that past the sour-faced man at all.

Aurei literally ran down the street, holding her dress skirt up
so she wouldn't step on it. The street was empty except for the
guards on the walls and they waved as she ran past. Brother
Darv was waiting outside the double doors of the Church of Yesh
as she rushed up.

"Thank Yesh you made it!" he sighed, "The King is seated already,
and Pinel is with him --beware, I think you will have a time with
him later. I'm supposed to inform you-"

"I know, I have to sit in the congregation."

"I'm terribly sorry, Aurei, it's not fair to you at all, you were
his daughter in all but blood."

"I know." the girl whispered, "That is all that matters."

"I have a seat reserved for you at the front. Hurry child, we
can't delay any longer."

He held a door open for her and she rushed in, careful not to run
in the large sanctuary but walking very determinedly to the
front, careful not to look at anyone and especially not to glance
up into the balcony where Pinel was no doubt glaring at her like
a buzzard. She heard the whispers as she entered and was
greatly relieved to find Thorm, Krys and Brandi seated next to
her on the front most row of the congregation area.

The funeral service began almost immediately, consisting of hymns
to Yesh, lengthy prayers for the soul of Gamel and Brother Darv
reciting a very moving and respectful account of the life of Duke
Bugley. Gamel rested in state in a very ornate wood casket, his
lifeless form preserved from any hint of decay by a spell that
wouldn't last long past the service. He looked so old and
frail, Aurei thought to herself as she cried throughout the
service. Before she knew it, the final prayer had been chanted
and the bells of the church were tolling, announcing the end.
The line of mourners then began coming forward to take one last
look at the Duke, and many stopped before Aurei and patted her
shoulder, hugged her, squeezed her hand or even kissed her
forehead. She could hardly speak to them, so caught up in the
full realization that the last of her foster family had passed
away and she was now completely alone, forced to survive by her
own merits. Someone gently took her arm and she looked up to
see Brother Darv escorting her to the front to see Gamel one last
time. Krys had her arm around her on the other side and was
weeping herself as they went up the dais and stood before the
coffin emblazoned with the crest of the Duke of Westmark. She
could not stop crying and she stood there for a long moment
sobbing harshly, not wanting to draw attention to herself but
unable to contain it any longer. She leaned over the casket, at
that moment not caring if Pinel cut off her head for the gesture,
and kissed the cold cheek of the Duke.

"Goodbye, father" she whispered and she quickly turned and was
led down the other aisle by Krys and Thorm while Brother Darv
remained behind at the casket to receive Pinel's family and the
King.

By the time she was outside, Aurei had regained some composure
and quickly dried her eyes as she joined the procession that were
heading to the small fenced in family cemetery that sat guarded
by several tall majestic trees, to the east of the Keep. They
had already set up a tall viewing platform as well as an equally
tall pyre and ducal guards in their finest armor stood at
attention at all four points of the pyre, awaiting the casket.
They did not have long to wait, as soon, six guards solemnly
carried the now closed casket of Gamel up the path to the
platform, with Brother Darv, Pinel and the Royal party walking
behind it. Aurei could not see, through the gathered crowd, any
of them, but at that moment she really didn't care.

They mounted the viewing platform while the casket was placed on
the pyre a short distance away. Suddenly two hands touched her
from behind and she turned to see a pair of Royal guards wearing
the shining silver plate mail of the King's bodyguard.
"Miss Bugley," One guard spoke to her with a bow, "His majesty
has ordered us to escort you to the top of the platform to stand
with the family."

She was stunned and only nodded, then was hurriedly led around
the crowd and up the wood stairs to the newly constructed wooden
viewing platform that was crowed with people. At once she
caught the shrived up, balding head of Pinel glaring at her,
hatred in his icy blue eyes and his hag-like wife stood at his
side, her hawk-like nose up in the air and a baneful expression
on her mean face. Beside them stood their sons, as unlike their
father as night is from day. They stood there sweating like
small fat ogres, also frowning at her as she passed. She
didn't want to stand beside them but didn't have to worry because
the guards led her past them up to where the King's party stood,
next to Brother Darv.

There stood Sir Hugh, still wearing his plate armor standing next
to an absolutely beautiful Elf woman with long flowing golden
blonde hair wearing a crown. Aurei was completely confused and
stopped, looking to the knight, who smiled gently. Before she
could say anything, Brother Darv began the Burning Rite and she
had to turn to watch.

"Yesh said, 'All flesh is temporal, only the soul transcends.
Blessed is the one who embraces your brother and sister in love
and contends against evil. Righteous are those who trust in me,
for death has no power over those I love and though the body may
burn, the spirit of the faithful will rise to join me in
paradise."

"So be it." everyone responded.

"Brother Gamel Bugley, Duke of Westmark, we commit your body to
the flames and your ashes to the wind, for your soul is not here
but resides in peace in the Kingdom of Yesh the merciful."

"Glory be to Yesh." again they responded.

Without another word, the priest of Yesh raised his hands to
Heaven, closed his eyes and said a single word. Suddenly a
flash of fire seemed to fall from the sky onto the pyre and in a
moment it was alit. Those congregated around the pyre began
singing and Aurei joined in, though she found herself choking up
halfway through the first verse as she watched the fire consume
the casket. She felt a soft arm go around her shoulder and she
looked up through her tears to see the beautiful Elf lady smiling
sadly at her as she gently hugged her.

***

Minutes later, everyone began to disperse. Aurei had to turn
and look at the Elven woman who had comforted her, "Thank you,
ma'am".

"Trust in Yesh, dear child, and He will comfort you."

"Aurei" Sir Hugh said and she turned to him, "Let me introduce
you to my wife, Queen Eioldth."

"Nice to meet you, Aurei, I learned much about you yesterday."

Aurei's head spun with confusion, she turned back to Sir
Hugh
"Your wife is a Queen? But… you…"

He held his hand out to her, "I'm afraid I haven't been
forthcoming with you completely, Aurei. 'Hugh' is just a
nickname and I'm not a knight."

"Not a knight? Then…." She put her hands to her mouth, figuring
it out suddenly as he spoke.

"I'm King Haroldris IV, Aurei"

"Yesh preserve me!" she said in horror, quickly dropping into a
deep curtsy, "Your majesty, I am so very sorry, I am a fool, I
never realized-"

"Aurei, it was as I intended, I seldom have a chance to speak
candidly with people and when I saw that you didn't know who I
was, I decided it would be a good time to find out more about you
and to learn your views on things."

"Oh goodness, no!" she frantically tried to remember everything
she had said to him the day before, "I am so sorry, your majesty,
I was so tired and stressed out and -"

"What are you apologizing for? I enjoyed our conversations as
did my wife."

The Queen smiled at Aurei's confused look, "My husband and I have
magic amulets that allows us to view from afar what the other one
is experiencing. Though we cannot communicate with one another
through the amulets, we at least witness what they have seen and
heard."

"I am so very sorry, I never knew who he was!" she apologized to
the young queen who smiled sweetly.

"I believe that was the idea. My husband wished to get your
honest opinion on several matters without you weighed down with
telling him what you believed he wanted to hear."

Before Aurei could say anything else, Pinel broke into the
conversation, coming up to the King which caused her to have to
step aside.

"Your majesty!", his nasally voice said loudly, "I'm sorry she's
troubling you. It was most kind of you to allow her to join us.
We've prepared a feast for your lovely queen and yourself.
Aurei, I am sure, is needed in making preparations."

He turned to her with a much strained smile, but his eyes were
like daggers.

"Yes" she said, too stunned by the new identity of Sir Hugh to
even think of being defiant to Pinel, "I'll go at once."

Before the King or Queen could say anything more, Aurei quickly
curtsied and holding her hem up slightly, ran down the platform
and toward the Muddy Boot.

"Our conversation was not done, Pinel." The King said to the
weasel of a man, who bowed slightly with a wide smile as he began
to nervously ramble on.

"My apologies, your majesty, but she does tend to linger on, does
she not? She won't give you any more trouble; I give you my
word on this. It is so sad that we have to burn our dead now,
but with the Necromancer Guild about, what choice do we have?
It was a fine service, don't you think? It is such a beautiful
day for it, too, though we were nearly delayed due to that silly
Drow girl. No matter, all worked out and we are most honored to
have you join us this day to remember dear, dear uncle Gamel. I
am sure he would be most honored to know you were here. I know
I am. Your presence honors us, sire. And your lovely lady
too! How delightful to learn you have taken a wife. A
wonderful surprise to learn she was a lovely Elven lady. How
charming! Now if you would follow me, I will escort you to
dine." With a rather exaggerated gesture, Pinel indicated they
should follow him.

With a slight sigh, the King led his wife off the platform while
nearby the mortal remains of Gamel Bugley drifted away in smoke.